News24 reports that the SA National Defence Union (Sandu) on Monday said it would this week be filing criminal charges against former Eskom boss Brian Molefe following his appointment as an honorary colonel of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF).  

The union also wants his call-up to be withdrawn immediately, failing which it will take the necessary legal action.  "Molefe must be brought to book together with whoever in the military aided this fraud and he must pay back the salary he received," said Sandu's Pikkie Greeff in a statement.  Greeff said news that Molefe had been given the position of honorary colonel in the SANDF reserves was perplexing because “an honorary colonel of the SANDF reserve is not, by law, eligible for call-up into active duty."  He explained that a valid call-up into active duty required the incumbent to have a substantive military rank, obtained through military training and the appropriate qualifications.  "It also requires that the officer holds a commissioned rank.  Molefe meets none of these requirements. Molefe's call-up is thus unlawful and fraudulent,” Greeff claimed.  According to City Press, Molefe has earned R57,000 a month since August as a military colonel, despite having no military background.

Read this report by Amanda Khoza in full at News24

See Sandu’s press statement in this regard at Sandu online

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page